Good friend of the blog Stefan Stevenson has a story today in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about TCU coach Gary Patterson being “amused” by the Mountain West schedule. Let’s say the lame duck Horned Frogs didn’t get many favors.

The part that matters to Air Force football fans is that TCU did not want to play anyone on Week 2, when it is now scheduled to play at Air Force. TCU plays in-state rival Baylor on Sept. 3 and requested the next week off. As the story points out, every team makes simple requests. For example, Air Force didn’t want to play after Nov. 26, and that was granted.

Instead of giving TCU that week off, the Horned Frogs are flying to Colorado Springs to play Air Force, one of the tougher league games on their schedule, especially for a team that will be replacing many starters including quarterback Andy Dalton.Perhaps the funniest part of TCU getting shipped to Air Force in Week 2 is the Mountain West did give Boise State that weekend off – presumably Boise State asked for a bye because it plays at Georgia in Week 1.

The Mountain West already raised some eyebrows when it changed the venue of this year’s TCU-Boise State game from Fort Worth to Boise. TCU is leaving for the Big East after the 2011-12 season.

“The Mountain West Conference has to do what it has to do,” Patterson told the paper. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think the Mountain West was treating us like an independent. I’m not so sure they shouldn’t just consider us an independent.”

The only problem for Air Force is Patterson is masterful at using slights like this to motivate his team. Perhaps it’s not ideal for the Horned Frogs to come to Colorado Springs so early in the season, but they will be ready.

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